The following are Soccer America’s position-by-position rankings of MLS’s top players for Year 1. Read Ridge Mahoney’s analysis in the Nov. 11 (cover date) issue of Soccer America.
GOALKEEPERS
1. Brad Friedel (Columbus)
2. Tony Meola (MetroStars)
3. Mark Dodd (Dallas)
4. Mark Simpson (D.C. United)
5. Jorge Campos (Los Angeles)
RIGHT BACKS
1. Mark Semioli (Los Angeles)
2. Diego Sonora (Dallas)
3. Troy Dayak (San Jose)
4. Frank Hejduk (Tampa Bay)
5. Clint Peay (D.C. United)
LEFT BACKS
1. Steve Pittman (Tampa Bay)
2. Gregg Vanney (Los Angeles)
3. Mario Gori (D.C. United)
4. Diego Gutierrez (Kansas City)
5. Oscar Draguicevich (San Jose)
CENTRAL DEFENDERS
1. Robin Fraser (Los Angeles)
2. John Doyle (San Jose)
3. Frank Yallop (Tampa Bay)
4. Dan Calichman (Los Angeles)
5. Jeff Agoos (D.C. United)
6. Marcelo Balboa (Colorado)
DEFENSIVE MIDFIELDERS
1. Leonel Alvarez (Dallas)
2. Martin Vasquez (Tampa Bay)
3. Richie Williams (D.C. United)
4. Chris Armas (Los Angeles)
5. Geoff Aunger (New England)
OUTSIDE MIDFIELDERS
1. Roberto Donadoni (MetroStars)
2. Jason Kreis (Dallas)
3. Tab Ramos (MetroStars)
4. John Harkes (D.C. United)
5. Cobi Jones (Los Angeles)
6. Mark Chung (Kansas City)
ATTACKING MIDFIELDERS
1. Marco Etcheverry (D.C. United)
2. Carlos Valderrama (Tampa Bay)
3. Mauricio Cienfuegos (Los Angeles)
4. Missael Espinoza (San Jose)
5. Brian Maisonneuve (Columbus)
FORWARDS (SUPPORTING STRIKERS)
1. Preki (Kansas City)
2. Joe-Max Moore (New England)
3. Antony De Avila (MetroStars)
4. Eric Wynalda (San Jose)
5. Jaime Moreno (D.C. United)
STRIKERS (TARGET MEN)
1. Eduardo Hurtado (Los Angeles)
2. Roy Lassiter (Tampa Bay)
3. Raul Diaz Arce (D.C. United)
4. Brian McBride (Columbus)
5. Giovanni Savarese (MetroStars)
COACHES
1. Bruce Arena (D.C. United)
2. Thomas Rongen (Tampa Bay)
3. Lothar Osiander (Los Angeles)
GENERAL MANAGERS
1. Peter Bridgwater (San Jose)
2. Kevin Payne (D.C. United)
3. Billy Hicks (Dallas)